a work of art | trippie redd

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A L I S E Y A H
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i woke up in a startle because someone had jumped on top of me and showering me with kisses on my face.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BITCH." mila screamed in my ear before i pushed her off of me. i opened my eyes saw my mom and my dad standing at the foot of the bed with a a cupcake on a plate in their hand with a candle on top.

they began singing happy birthday to me, mila recording me even though i was positive i looked like a disaster with my huge bonnet on. i pulled the covers over my face and groaned while mila was tugging at it. finally they stopped and my parents came and each gave me a kiss on my forehead, wishing me a happy birthday.

"thank you," i smiled. they set the cupcake down and walked out, mila the only one left.

i went to go brush my teeth, leaving her in there, before returning and sharing my cupcake with her.

"so, what was so important that you made me take off work today? i always work on my birthday, i can't afford to take days off so this better be good." i pressed her.

mila gave me a sly smile. "you're just gonna have to wait and see. i'm gonna be with you all day helping you get ready for tonight." she said, and i only realized then that it was around 9am.

"no fucking way you woke me up this early. i should kill you." i said.

she smiled again. "it'll all be worth it. finish your cupcake, i'm gonna go take a shower." mila always left clothes here and an extra toothbrush, so nobody cared if she just randomly took a shower.

about twenty minutes later it was my turn, so i took a thorough shower to help wake me up. when i walked back into my room with just a towel on, i asked mila what i should wear for whatever we're about to do.

"wear something casual. we're not doing anything crazy yet." and without a word i went into my closet and pulled out basically the first thing i saw.

i dropped my towel, not caring because mila and i change in front of each other all the time and my parents were in their room doing whatever, and changed. i decided to do my makeup light, just doing my eyebrows and applying lip gloss.

i was ready in 30 minutes, grabbing my purse and stuffing the necessities in it.

"ready to go?" mila asked. i nodded. before we left she pulled out a a large pin that said "it's my birthday" and pinned it on me. we walked out and into her car. i had no idea where we were going, but i knew better than to question her because she'd only get annoyed and yell at me to shut up. after a short drive we pulled into a shopping center, and i followed her to the front of a nail salon.

i looked at her warily. "mila i can't afford to get my nails done right now." i said softly.

"you think i'd let you pay for anything on your birthday? come on bitch." and she dragged me inside, quietly telling the lady what design to do so i wouldn't hear, and i was ushered into a pedicure chair with mila right next to me.

"you didn't have to do this. you know i hate taking money from you." i said to her.

"shut up, i'd do anything for you." she smiled at me.

mila and i come from very different backgrounds financially. i live in a shitty one bedroom apartment with my parents and my baby sister where my room is actually the living room, but my bed turns into a couch so whenever i wake up i have to convert it so if people come over, they wouldn't think anything of it. my closet is in the armoire that the small tv sits in. on the sides of the tv there's two closets that i use, which i always have to keep closed in case people come over. there's barely enough room for my clothes, giving that i thrift a lot. my parents live off unemployment checks and food stamps, we take any aid that the government will give us. ever since i was 12 years old, i saved up for my car that i bought for only $1200. it's bound to break down on me any day now.